Atrial fibrillation: New-onset AF in women-an independent risk factor or a 'canary in a coal mine'?

摘要

"A Potential opportunity [exists] to improve the outcomes of individuals with new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) through both prevention and optimal management of associated comorbidites." These comments from Dr David Conen of the University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland come after the publication in JAMA of an analysis from the Women's Health Study cohort. The paper by Conen et al. demonstrates that, in a large population of initially healthy middle-aged women, new-onset AF was associated with a twofold increase in the risk of death and cardiac events. Although a substantial proportion of this risk was attributable to cardiovascular comorbidities, a direct effect of AF as a risk factor was still present.